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RNLI rescues spaniel stuck in cove
Pictured: Woody at Port Isaac RNLI boathouse, safe after his dramatic rescue.

Woody fell off a cliff, and had been missing for three days. 

A sprocker spaniel has been rescued by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), after falling  off a cliff in north Cornwall and going missing for three days.

Woody, a nine-month-old sprocker spaniel, was out on a coastal walk with his owners when he disappeared from their view. After searching for more then 24 hours, Woody's owners were incredibly distressed, unsure if they would ever see him again. 

Jon, Woody's owner, said: “We felt sick to the stomach going back without Woody. Then we had a phone call telling us that a dog had been heard barking down a cliff.

“Words can’t express how delighted and overjoyed we were.”

After falling 150ft down the cliff, and having been missing for three days, Woody was eventually discovered when a walker heard him barking. A farmer local to the area kindly used a drone to locate Woody, and found him inside a steep-sided cove.

The farmer notified the RNLI, and Port Isaac's RNLI volunteer crew navigated their D class inshore lifeboat through a large swell to rescue Woody. 

RNLI crew member Ben Spicer commented on the rescue: “Woody gave us a good run around to start off with as he was understandably distressed, cold, tired and hungry.

“It felt fantastic to get Woody out of there and back to his owners. I can only imagine how horrid it must have felt not knowing his circumstances over those days

“It was a great team effort with multiple organisations involved, Cornwall Search Dogs, DogLost Cornwall, Boscastle CG and the RNLI all working harmoniously and achieving a positive outcome. It could have very easily gone the other way for Woody.” 

Jon thanked the crew who saved Woody: “The whole thing is a miracle: it’s amazing that he survived the fall, the couple of nights alone and that he was rescued. How on earth?

“We can’t thank the RNLI crew enough. We’ve always donated to the RNLI. I’ve been a Shoreline member for years and when my wife’s father died, we donated as well, never knowing that we would need them to rescue our dog.”

Image (C) RNLI.

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Webinar to explore history of KC breed registers

News Story 1
 A free webinar exploring the development of the Kennel Club's registration system and the evolution of closed breed registers has been announced.

Hosted by Dr Alison Skipper, veterinary and research advisor at the Kennel Club, the webinar will delve into the development of the registry and how the changing landscape of scientific knowledge has shaped breeding practices. It will also look at what this means for the future of pedigree dogs.

The session will culminate with a look at The Kennel Club's ongoing and future engagement in this area, with a chance for attendees to put forward their thoughts and questions for discussion.

This event takes place on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, 10 June at 7pm. To learn more, visit events.teams.microsoft.com  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.